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Falcons sign Dez White

 

By George Henry

The Associated Press

 

March 23, 2004, 4:07 PM CST

 

 

The Atlanta Falcons added depth at receiver Tuesday when former Bear Dez White signed a two-year, $2 million contract.

 

White, 23, visited the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals and spoke briefly with Kansas City, but he was swayed by a stop he made last week at the Falcons' complex.

 

After watching film with new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, White found the right fit.

 

"That's what really excited me," said White, whose deal included a $600,000 signing bonus. "Just watching how the system leaves it up to the receivers to go out and win one-on-one matchups and go up and get the ball -- that's what I like to do."

 

White started 31 of 45 games for the Bears, who drafted him in the third round of 2000. In three years at Georgia Tech, White tied the school record for career touchdowns with 14 and finished second in receiving yards with 1,833. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 19.6 yards per catch in his final season as a junior.

 

The Falcons, coming off a miserable 5-11 season in which star quarterback Michael Vick missed 12 starts, believe White will back up leading receivers Peerless Price and Brian Finneran. Atlanta quarterbacks need considerable help after finishing last in NFL quarterback rating (58.7), last in completion percentage (50) and tied for last in percentage of passes intercepted (4.6).

 

"Everybody is excited about what the offense is capable of," White said. "Everybody is just excited to see what's going to happen this year."

 

White's speed could help the Falcons improve in several categories. Atlanta receivers averaged 164.4 yards, second-worst in the league, and they were last in the NFC in catching only 31 passes that covered at least 20 yards.

 

The Falcons have no players remaining from their 2000 draft. Guard Travis Claridge, a second-round selection, ended contract talks with Atlanta two weeks ago. Linebacker Mark Simoneau, a third-round pick, was traded last year to Philadelphia.

 

Offensive tackle Michael Thompson, cornerback Anthony Midget and receiver Mareno Philyaw are out of the NFL. Cornerback Darrick Vaughn played last year as a return specialist in Houston.

Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press

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Falcons being my favourite team, hope they get a good Offensive Lineman in the draft. Gallery, Andrews etc.

They won't get Gallery, prob go #2 to da Raiders. Andrews is really droppin, Miami will prob select him at #20. I think the Falcons will pick Tommy Harris or Sean Taylor.

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Falcons sign Dez White

 

By George Henry

The Associated Press

 

March 23, 2004, 4:07 PM CST

 

 

The Atlanta Falcons added depth at receiver Tuesday when former Bear Dez White signed a two-year, $2 million contract.

 

White, 23, visited the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals and spoke briefly with Kansas City, but he was swayed by a stop he made last week at the Falcons' complex.

 

After watching film with new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, White found the right fit.

 

"That's what really excited me," said White, whose deal included a $600,000 signing bonus. "Just watching how the system leaves it up to the receivers to go out and win one-on-one matchups and go up and get the ball -- that's what I like to do."

 

White started 31 of 45 games for the Bears, who drafted him in the third round of 2000. In three years at Georgia Tech, White tied the school record for career touchdowns with 14 and finished second in receiving yards with 1,833. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 19.6 yards per catch in his final season as a junior.

 

The Falcons, coming off a miserable 5-11 season in which star quarterback Michael Vick missed 12 starts, believe White will back up leading receivers Peerless Price and Brian Finneran. Atlanta quarterbacks need considerable help after finishing last in NFL quarterback rating (58.7), last in completion percentage (50) and tied for last in percentage of passes intercepted (4.6).

 

"Everybody is excited about what the offense is capable of," White said. "Everybody is just excited to see what's going to happen this year."

 

White's speed could help the Falcons improve in several categories. Atlanta receivers averaged 164.4 yards, second-worst in the league, and they were last in the NFC in catching only 31 passes that covered at least 20 yards.

 

The Falcons have no players remaining from their 2000 draft. Guard Travis Claridge, a second-round selection, ended contract talks with Atlanta two weeks ago. Linebacker Mark Simoneau, a third-round pick, was traded last year to Philadelphia.

 

Offensive tackle Michael Thompson, cornerback Anthony Midget and receiver Mareno Philyaw are out of the NFL. Cornerback Darrick Vaughn played last year as a return specialist in Houston.

Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press

Don't let the door hit you in the ass DEZ!

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They won't get Gallery, prob go #2 to da Raiders. Andrews is really droppin, Miami will prob select him at #20. I think the Falcons will pick Tommy Harris or Sean Taylor.

No way in hell does Atlanta get Taylor without trading up. If Washington doesn't take him, Detroit will(unless Williams/Fitzgerald drop, and I see no way of that being possible), Taylor is gone.

 

Not sure about Gallery yet. It really does depend on what the Raiders do. If the Raiders choose to take a QB(would probably be Roethlisberger, though if San Diego for some reason takes Big Ben, it would be a no brainer to take Eli; they could take a QB though...Gannon isn't getting any young and Tuiasosopo, or however the hell you spell his name, is most likely not destined for greatness), or IMO the more likely route is Williams or Fitzgerald. That leaves Arizona with probably Big Ben(or the other of the receivers...that choice is up to them...however, I think they take a QB), New York with Gallery, and Washington with several options and only one pick(possibly Udezi from USC, Harris from OU, Taylor and Wilfork from Miami, and maybe others, but those are the 3 I would bet on them looking at...I'll say they take the Wilfork, just for the hell of it, because I believe he is moving up quite quickly on the boards), Detroit then with Taylor, Cleveland with probably Winslow II, and Atlanta with the other receiver not taken by Oakland(or if Arizona takes that receiver, I would venture to guess that Cleveland takes the QB not taken, and I could see Atlanta taking Roy Williams here, possibly a DE, possibly moving to later in the draft and taking Tommie Harris...all kinds of things could happen with this pick).

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No way in hell does Atlanta get Taylor without trading up.  If Washington doesn't take him, Detroit will(unless Williams/Fitzgerald drop, and I see no way of that being possible), Taylor is gone.

 

Not sure about Gallery yet.  It really does depend on what the Raiders do.  If the Raiders choose to take a QB(would probably be Roethlisberger, though if San Diego for some reason takes Big Ben, it would be a no brainer to take Eli; they could take a QB though...Gannon isn't getting any young and Tuiasosopo, or however the hell you spell his name, is most likely not destined for greatness), or IMO the more likely route is Williams or Fitzgerald.  That leaves Arizona with probably Big Ben(or the other of the receivers...that choice is up to them...however, I think they take a QB), New York with Gallery, and Washington with several options and only one pick(possibly Udezi from USC, Harris from OU, Taylor and Wilfork from Miami, and maybe others, but those are the 3 I would bet on them looking at...I'll say they take the Wilfork, just for the hell of it, because I believe he is moving up quite quickly on the boards), Detroit then with Taylor, Cleveland with probably Winslow II, and Atlanta with the other receiver not taken by Oakland(or if Arizona takes that receiver, I would venture to guess that Cleveland takes the QB not taken, and I could see Atlanta taking Roy Williams here, possibly a DE, possibly moving to later in the draft and taking Tommie Harris...all kinds of things could happen with this pick).

Taylor ran like a 4.63 in the 40 yard dash, so his stock is slippin. I don't think he'll go past Detroit at 6, but if he does, Atlanta or Cleveland will snap him up. A lot will depend on his 2nd workout. If Fitzgerald is available at 3, Green will take him, no matta what. I think Oakland will pick Gallery, because he'll provide an instant impact, which is what Al Davis wants. If Stephan Jackson fits into Detroit's style of a runnin back, they could take him at #6 too. Washington will take Winslow if all likelihood now since they missed out on Kleinsasser.

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How? Vick will probably outrun his ass. :D

Probably? It's safe to say he will outrun Dez by a long shot. As a Falcons fan I like this move. For the Bears White was a top 2 WR sadly. With the Falcons he will be the #3 guy at best as Jas said. I say at best because I'm holding out for Roy Williams, but there are a lot of holes on this team. I think there are a lot of options for the Falcons, which means they might want to trade down and get more picks to fill those holes. Vick can take the team far, but they still need to fill those holes to win the SB.

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All I have to say on this one is GOOD. I am glad he won't be back with the Bears. He reminds me of Willie Gault without the speed. Gualt was fast as hell but had stone hands too.

Willie Gault never saw a tackle he wouldn't fall down to avoid.

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